TCASII RA confusion, climb then descend.

Attributes
ACN	184610
Time
Date	199107
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : bdl
State Reference	CT
Altitude	msl bound lower : 6000 msl bound upper : 6000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : bdl
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 6000 flight time type : 2800
ASRS Report	184610
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Miss Distance	horizontal : 18000
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation other

Narrative:

Approach cleared us to descend TCAS gave climb initially then reversed to descend command. We climbed 4-600 ft then reversed to a descent. Controller was contacted after incident by phone. TCAS very confusing.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: TCASII RA CONFUSION, CLB THEN DSND.

Narrative: APCH CLRED US TO DSND TCAS GAVE CLB INITIALLY THEN REVERSED TO DSND COMMAND. WE CLBED 4-600 FT THEN REVERSED TO A DSCNT. CTLR WAS CONTACTED AFTER INCIDENT BY PHONE. TCAS VERY CONFUSING.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.